When I made my first trip to Europe, in 1976, I stopped in Austria when everyone spoke German and I hadn't taken that into account. I was helped at the train station by a nice Austrian woman, and I gave her cigarettes to thank her (we smoked together before my train arrived). I had learned a tiny bit of Italian, because my true destination was Venice. I could say hello, good evening, where's the bathroom, please and thank you -- very little else. When I got to the glass museum on Murano, it was closing, but the guard took pity on me, and brought me inside for a personal tour. He didn't speak English, and you already know how much Italian I had (shameful really), but he made himself understood as he showed me all the displays and even took me backstage where they were repairing an amazing blown glass park, complete with trees, grass, flowers, benches, swing sets, et al. It was an amazing experience, a memory I savor.
I so appreciate today's post. I love learning about Marivi Solivin and her work. Can't wait to read it too.
That tour through the glass "park" sounds amazing. Isn't it striking how few words are needed for communication to take place when folks are face to face? That's something that a phone interpreter doesn't have available, I suppose.
The one thing I've learned about traveling is that an effort to speak in a common language makes a big difference even when you can only manage the essentials.
So true. On subsequent trips to Europe and other places, I've learned a bit more. But even the few Turkish and Arabic words I learned served me well. I did learn more German, more Italian, and lots more French. I study French every day, and can read it better than I can write or speak it. But at least I can make myself understood in traveler's French.
From one bread baker to another, I can’t wait to listen and eventually watch your films, Marivi. Congratulations! We had a short film festival here in Spokane, and I was surprised how all the filmmakers represented on stage that night were men. I’m curious about the number of women in the film industry. I think representation goes a long way towards growth in that area. Like...more women are in forensics and science because of Dana Scully. I’ve been interested lately in translation. My husband just finished Babel, and I was thinking I might give that a try. I wrote a piece a few weeks back called Lost in Translation if anyone wants to check it out. It’s about the times we get communication very wrong. https://pocketfulofprose.substack.com/p/lost-in-translation
Mary, I just read your piece. I was struck by how each of your examples showed how much is lost in translation even when everyone speaks the same language. Another whole issue? Maybe not.
Thanks so much for reading. I was thinking of translation in a larger sense and pondering all the different ways translating can go wrong. The examples I gave were definitely miscommunication rather than errors in translation but it was kind of interesting to think about faltering in translation in our native tongue.
This is such a wonderful interview with Marivi and feature. Thank you, Betsy. I've read Marivi's book (a couple of times), as well as the "Pandemic Bread "story, and I watched the "Panedmic Bread" film that was created from the story. That story hit me especially hard when it was presented on the Decameron program after the book was published. So powerful. How fabulous that a film is being made from "The Mango Bride." Who knows what can happen when our stories are out there in the world. And my goodness, look at that bread!
Wow! I just listened to the full episode. Marivi, I’m going to recommend that we get your book in our school library, and I’ll recommend it to our multi-cultural book club. It is on my
Good reads list now. Thank you for your activism. I have a friend who does similar work here in Spokane, and she is also amazing. I drank in your words like cool tea- thank you! Thanks Betsy for doing this!
Divorce is still illegal in the Philippines? That blew my mind. Also, was fascinated by the issues of race and class raised- I hope you get the writers of color workshop going again. I would be interested of knowing of all that you do.
Thank you so much! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the conversation as much as I did, when Betsy and I spoke. The Mango Bride is out of print, but you can still find secondhand copies on ebay for under $20. I also put out a Kindle edition on Amazon for folks who are open to reading a digital version. Happy to chat with your multi-cultural book club if you decide to discuss it! I hope to organize another Centering the Margins: Conversations with Writers of Color conference, and will post updates on that and other news on my website https://marivisoliven.com/ and other social media.
My husband reminded me today that Moby Dick was out of print for 30 years. I will track down a copy and then work from there. :) Thank you for your generous offer to talk to our students and our club. It wouldn't be until next year, but that could be pretty amazing.
Bargaining in the Bazaar in Istanbul: the merchant speaks most languages, as we discovered when having a side discussion about prices.
It starts with a fine haggle in english, which we enjoy very much because the merchant doesn't realize at first that we can read arabic numbers. Of course his opening gambit starts orders of magnitude higher than realistic.
After hitting an apparent price, we feign. "Oh look! Here's a tag! Waddaya know- the tag says a price at 1/3 of what you said you'd sell for!"
"What about that?"
So we discuss a bit in french, but merchant is obviously fluent there too. Farsi? same thing.
Sooooo- Ubbi Dubbi it is. Merchant flummoxed. Strategy successful. Deal closed at an advantageous price. After all, bargaining is as much about entertainment as advantage...
This was fun. Low stakes may make language gaps more interesting and entertaining for sure. Plus, you can experiment with lots of ways to communicate. Interestingly, with your story, the solution was to find a language that was incomprehensible to the merchant. A sort of anti-interpretation approach. Of course the main goal / context was established and well understood by all parties so there is that.
When I made my first trip to Europe, in 1976, I stopped in Austria when everyone spoke German and I hadn't taken that into account. I was helped at the train station by a nice Austrian woman, and I gave her cigarettes to thank her (we smoked together before my train arrived). I had learned a tiny bit of Italian, because my true destination was Venice. I could say hello, good evening, where's the bathroom, please and thank you -- very little else. When I got to the glass museum on Murano, it was closing, but the guard took pity on me, and brought me inside for a personal tour. He didn't speak English, and you already know how much Italian I had (shameful really), but he made himself understood as he showed me all the displays and even took me backstage where they were repairing an amazing blown glass park, complete with trees, grass, flowers, benches, swing sets, et al. It was an amazing experience, a memory I savor.
I so appreciate today's post. I love learning about Marivi Solivin and her work. Can't wait to read it too.
That tour through the glass "park" sounds amazing. Isn't it striking how few words are needed for communication to take place when folks are face to face? That's something that a phone interpreter doesn't have available, I suppose.
The one thing I've learned about traveling is that an effort to speak in a common language makes a big difference even when you can only manage the essentials.
So true. On subsequent trips to Europe and other places, I've learned a bit more. But even the few Turkish and Arabic words I learned served me well. I did learn more German, more Italian, and lots more French. I study French every day, and can read it better than I can write or speak it. But at least I can make myself understood in traveler's French.
From one bread baker to another, I can’t wait to listen and eventually watch your films, Marivi. Congratulations! We had a short film festival here in Spokane, and I was surprised how all the filmmakers represented on stage that night were men. I’m curious about the number of women in the film industry. I think representation goes a long way towards growth in that area. Like...more women are in forensics and science because of Dana Scully. I’ve been interested lately in translation. My husband just finished Babel, and I was thinking I might give that a try. I wrote a piece a few weeks back called Lost in Translation if anyone wants to check it out. It’s about the times we get communication very wrong. https://pocketfulofprose.substack.com/p/lost-in-translation
That focaccia is so pretty!
Mary, I just read your piece. I was struck by how each of your examples showed how much is lost in translation even when everyone speaks the same language. Another whole issue? Maybe not.
Thanks so much for reading. I was thinking of translation in a larger sense and pondering all the different ways translating can go wrong. The examples I gave were definitely miscommunication rather than errors in translation but it was kind of interesting to think about faltering in translation in our native tongue.
This is such a wonderful interview with Marivi and feature. Thank you, Betsy. I've read Marivi's book (a couple of times), as well as the "Pandemic Bread "story, and I watched the "Panedmic Bread" film that was created from the story. That story hit me especially hard when it was presented on the Decameron program after the book was published. So powerful. How fabulous that a film is being made from "The Mango Bride." Who knows what can happen when our stories are out there in the world. And my goodness, look at that bread!
Congratulations Marivi! What wonderful news!
Gray newsletter!
Thank you, Cheri!
Wow! I just listened to the full episode. Marivi, I’m going to recommend that we get your book in our school library, and I’ll recommend it to our multi-cultural book club. It is on my
Good reads list now. Thank you for your activism. I have a friend who does similar work here in Spokane, and she is also amazing. I drank in your words like cool tea- thank you! Thanks Betsy for doing this!
Divorce is still illegal in the Philippines? That blew my mind. Also, was fascinated by the issues of race and class raised- I hope you get the writers of color workshop going again. I would be interested of knowing of all that you do.
Thank you so much! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the conversation as much as I did, when Betsy and I spoke. The Mango Bride is out of print, but you can still find secondhand copies on ebay for under $20. I also put out a Kindle edition on Amazon for folks who are open to reading a digital version. Happy to chat with your multi-cultural book club if you decide to discuss it! I hope to organize another Centering the Margins: Conversations with Writers of Color conference, and will post updates on that and other news on my website https://marivisoliven.com/ and other social media.
My husband reminded me today that Moby Dick was out of print for 30 years. I will track down a copy and then work from there. :) Thank you for your generous offer to talk to our students and our club. It wouldn't be until next year, but that could be pretty amazing.
Translation story:
Bargaining in the Bazaar in Istanbul: the merchant speaks most languages, as we discovered when having a side discussion about prices.
It starts with a fine haggle in english, which we enjoy very much because the merchant doesn't realize at first that we can read arabic numbers. Of course his opening gambit starts orders of magnitude higher than realistic.
After hitting an apparent price, we feign. "Oh look! Here's a tag! Waddaya know- the tag says a price at 1/3 of what you said you'd sell for!"
"What about that?"
So we discuss a bit in french, but merchant is obviously fluent there too. Farsi? same thing.
Sooooo- Ubbi Dubbi it is. Merchant flummoxed. Strategy successful. Deal closed at an advantageous price. After all, bargaining is as much about entertainment as advantage...
This was fun. Low stakes may make language gaps more interesting and entertaining for sure. Plus, you can experiment with lots of ways to communicate. Interestingly, with your story, the solution was to find a language that was incomprehensible to the merchant. A sort of anti-interpretation approach. Of course the main goal / context was established and well understood by all parties so there is that.